Everything You Need To Know BEFORE Getting a Keratin Treatment

If you have curly, wavy, and frizz-prone hair, you know how laborious and time consuming styling can be. Especially during hot, humid months. We love texture and wave, but when it becomes too much work, a keratin treatment is in order.

In short, keratin treatments work by breaking the bond in the hair and refilling and reforming it with protein and a flat iron. The result is less frizz and in many cases less curl (depending on which treatment you get). Keratin treatments are amazing because they help control hair and cut down styling and drying time for up to 3 months (or longer), making your “get ready” routine much quicker. They also make your hair unbelievably soft and healthy looking!

We see keratin treatments less as a matter of vanity and more as a time-saving hack. This means less time fussing with your hair and more time doing what you really want to do. So enjoy your beautiful natural wave and texture, just make it easier to manage. Here are some tips to follow before getting a keratin treatment.

Formaldehyde Risks

First, let’s address the formaldehyde risks, which are a real concern with some brands. The original Brazilian Blowout and many other Brazilian keratin brands do tend to have more formaldehyde in them. However, how much is released and a health concern is up for debate. We’re not chemists or experts on formaldehyde risks, so be sure to do your research on a brand before getting a treatment. Which brings us to…

Ask Which Brand They Use

Not all keratin treatments are the same. Call ahead of time and ask which brand of keratin the salon uses. Keratin treatments vary widely in their effectiveness. Some simply remove frizz and leave curl. Others can remove curl all together. So be sure to know what type of treatment a salon is using so you can determine which results you want.

Color BEFORE Treatment

Always color before getting a keratin treatment. Coloring after will strip the treatment from your hair lessening the effectiveness or removing it all together.

Only Use Gentle Sulfate-Free Products

After treatments it’s extremely important to only use sulfate-free products on your hair. Harsh shampoos and conditioners will strip the keratin treatment quicker, so do not skimp out on investing in quality, sulfate-free hair care. Brazilian Blowout makes shampoo, conditioner and hair masks specifically for keratin treatments and we highly recommend these products -they are more than worth the investment and will keep your treatment effective much longer.

DIY?

Inoar GHAIR Original Brazilian Smoothing Treatment, $38

A lot of women DIY their own keratin treatments. While this is doable, it is extremely laborious and the results can be very hit or miss. We don’t recommend this unless you’re skilled at doing hair. If you’re going to DIY a keratin treatment, make sure to follow the instructions exactly as they are given. You may notice some drug store brands offer keratin treatments, but in our experience these products are not particularly effective and usually only last 30 days or less. Where you’ll find the real treatments is Amazon. We got a hot tip from a Brazilian friend about the treatment she uses called Inoar G Hair. We’ve tried a lot of different keratins and this is the best one we’ve ever used. It completely gets rid of frizz and reduces curls to a soft, beachy wave.

Disclaimer: To be clear, this is a salon product and is meant to be used by professionals only. While you can order on Amazon, we urge you to have a professional stylist apply this product. If you DIY with this product it’s at your own risk.

Always Do Your Research

Last but not least, always do your research ahead of time on any keratin treatment you’re interested in trying. There is so much variation in the quality and effectiveness, it can be a very hit or miss process. Do you want to keep all your curl and just reduce frizz? Or do you want to remove curl all together? Consult your stylist ahead of time and make sure you know what kind of results each product will give. Keratin treatments are also expensive (easily around $200+ per treatment), so researching ahead of time can save you a lot of time and money.

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StyleFox® creates mindful, life-optimizing media for women. From fashion and beauty to fitness and food, we're here to help you lead a healthier, more enjoyable life. Our other sites include Design+Digs and GlobeGal.